The long tunnel out of the cavern felt much shorter on the way back.
Leon climbed the wooden ladder slowly, his muscles still sore from the battle and the intense mana absorption.
When he finally reached the top, fresh air hit his face.
He took a deep breath.
"…I never thought I'd be this happy to see the sky."
The silent village stretched before them once again.
But now Leon understood what had happened here.
Every empty house.
Every abandoned cart.
Every silent street.
"They never had a chance…"
Aether stepped out of the shed behind him.
"No."
Leon looked down at the ground.
"…That monster ate them."
Aether didn't reply.
Leon clenched his fist.
Mana moved inside his body like a quiet river.
It was faint, but he could feel it clearly now.
"Is it normal to feel this… strange after absorbing a mana core?"
"Yes."
Leon stretched his arms.
"I feel stronger."
"You are."
Leon smiled slightly.
"For the first time in my life."
Before coming here, he had been the weakest member of the royal family.
An illegitimate prince.
Ignored by everyone.
But now…
Things were starting to change.
A slow clap echoed from the trees nearby.
"Well, well."
Leon immediately turned.
"You again."
A figure dropped from a branch and landed gracefully in the village street.
It was the assassin Kael.
He looked amused.
"Nice work down there."
Leon crossed his arms.
"You were watching the whole time?"
"Of course."
Leon frowned.
"That's creepy."
Kael shrugged.
"It's my job."
Kael walked toward them casually.
His sharp eyes studied Leon carefully.
"You survived a Devourer."
Leon blinked.
"That thing has a name?"
"Yes."
Kael nodded toward the tunnel.
"A Burrow Devourer."
Leon sighed.
"Great. That sounds exactly as horrible as it was."
Kael chuckled.
"You did pretty well for a kid."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"…For a kid?"
Kael smirked.
"Don't get cocky."
Then his gaze shifted toward Aether.
"You knew it was there, didn't you?"
Aether answered calmly.
"Yes."
Kael shook his head.
"You really threw the boy into the deep end."
Leon looked between them.
"Wait… you knew about that monster?"
"Yes."
Leon stared.
"…And you still made me fight it?"
Aether looked at him.
"You survived."
Leon sighed.
"I'm starting to think you enjoy watching me suffer."
Kael's expression slowly turned serious.
"That Devourer isn't the real problem."
Leon frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Kael pointed toward the tunnel.
"Creatures like that don't usually leave their underground nests."
Leon understood immediately.
"You mean something forced it to the surface?"
"Yes."
Leon's stomach twisted.
"What could do that?"
Kael crossed his arms.
"That's exactly what the Night Veil is trying to figure out."
Leon looked uneasy.
"So this isn't the only strange thing happening?"
"No."
Kael's voice grew darker.
"Similar incidents have been reported near other borders of the empire."
Leon's eyes widened.
"Multiple monsters?"
"Worse."
Kael looked toward the distant mountains.
"Something is disturbing the balance of mana across the continent."
Aether finally spoke.
"Then we will return to the capital."
Kael nodded.
"That would be wise."
Leon blinked.
"We're going back already?"
"Yes."
Leon looked surprised.
"But my training—"
"It will continue."
Leon scratched his head.
"…I was starting to like monster hunting."
Kael laughed.
"Trust me."
"You'll get plenty of that in the future."
Leon looked toward the distant horizon.
Far beyond the forests and mountains…
The massive capital of the empire waited.
The heart of the Valtherion Empire.
Where the strongest warriors lived.
Where the royal family ruled.
Where powerful figures like the Twelve Elemental Swords, the Five Titled Generals, and the mysterious Night Veil gathered.
Leon exhaled slowly.
"…I guess things are about to get complicated."
Aether nodded.
"Yes."
High above the world…
In a palace hidden beyond mortal sight…
An ancient figure sat quietly beside a window.
His long silver hair moved gently in the wind.
His eyes glowed faintly with immeasurable power.
He had been watching everything.
The battle.
The training.
The Devourer.
He smiled slightly.
"The boy is interesting."
This man was none other than
Caelus Aurelion — The First Sovereign.
Founder of the empire.
The being who had once conquered half the continent.
And now…
He had begun paying attention to one forgotten prince.
Back in the silent village, Leon stretched his arms.
"So… when do we leave?"
Aether answered simply.
"Now."
Kael placed his mask back over his face.
"Good luck, kid."
Leon waved.
"Try not to spy on me too much."
Kael chuckled.
"No promises."
Then he disappeared into the forest once again.
Leon watched him go.
"…Assassins really are weird."
Aether began walking toward the road leading south.
Leon followed.
And with that—
The young illegitimate prince began his journey back to the capital.
Unaware that the next phase of his life…
Was about to become far more dangerous.